You have just stepped out of your bathroom with your hair dripping water, longing to achieve that desired softness and luster. However, you are greeted with a tangled mess that is too stubborn to resolve on its own.
Quite common, right? If you are struggling with unruly hair that is too difficult to handle, you should invest in a premium hair conditioner for your in-depth hair care routine. In addition to using a hair conditioner, it is also imperative for you to know how often you should condition your hair.
What is a Hair Conditioner?
A conditioner is an advanced hair care product that is used after shampooing your mane. The primary purpose of a hair conditioner is to restore moisture, smoothness, and strength. Typically, conditioners feature different ingredients, including special butter and oils to help detangle your hair, remove frizz, and impart shine.
There are various types of hair conditioners -each designed to cater to specific hair needs. For instance, regular hair conditioners tend to prevent hair breakage, boost elasticity, and make it easier to style your mane beautifully. A conditioner should be an integral part of your hair care routine, especially for those with weak, damaged, or chemically treated hair.
How Often Should You Choose Hair Conditioning?
The frequency of conditioning your mane will depend on factors like your hair type and the conditioner you wish to use.
1. Rinse-out Conditioner: As soon as we think of a hair conditioner, a rinse-out is the most common name that comes to our minds. You usually use it right after applying the shampoo while rinsing the same in a minute or two.
It is recommended that you should use the rinse-out conditioner after every wash, ideally 2-3 times a week. However, if you have fine or oily hair, you should condition your hair less frequently as it might weigh your mane down.
On the other hand, if you have coarse or dry hair, you should condition your hair daily or even on alternate days. This will impart extra moisture to your dry mane.
2. Leave-in Conditioner: This type of conditioner is expected to be left in the locks until the next time you wash your hair. This conditioner helps moisturise dry hair and even repair damaged mane. As per the general rule, you should use a leave-in conditioner at least once a week.
3. Deep Conditioner: This type of conditioner is expected to be left on your locks for around 30 minutes after application. These conditioners tend to be heavier than regular variants. These are typically designed to repair heavily damaged hair while hydrating moisture-less mane. You should opt for deep-conditioning your locks once a month or two.
4. Cleansing Conditioner: This is a type of rinse-out conditioner that effectively cleans and conditions your locks. This type of conditioner eliminates the need to use separate shampoos. Typically, these are lighter than other variants. Therefore, they will not weigh down your locks. This makes them an ideal choice for those with fine or oily hair.
Cleansing conditioners are regarded as regular shampoos. Therefore, you can use them as often as you want. Typically, these are expected to be used daily or even on alternate days for oily hair. Curly or dry hair can go for longer periods between subsequent washes, usually a week or more.
How to Use a Hair Conditioner
The manner in which you condition your hair determines its overall effectiveness. It also makes a major difference in the overall appearance of your hair.
It is highly tempting to condition your entire hair at all times. However, those with fine and oily hair should avoid daily conditioning. It might make your mane appear weighed down.
Rather, you should emphasise applying conditioners to the ends of the hair only. The ends get damaged easily. This makes them more porous than the remaining hair.
On the other hand, dry or coarse hair can benefit from conditioners that are applied throughout the entire hair. Some individuals also find it effective to ensure co-washing or use a deep conditioner in place of a shampoo.
Some more tips to condition your locks are:
- After shampooing, rinse your hair thoroughly to make sure that your scalp is clean and effectively wet. Squeeze out excess water to make the conditioner work properly on the strands.
- Depending on the thickness and length of your hair, use the right amount of conditioner.
- Start applying the conditioner from the mid-length of your hair to its ends. Do not apply conditioner directly on the scalp, especially if you have fine or oily hair.
- Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the conditioner evenly through your locks. This helps make sure that every strand is coated properly and detangled easily.
How to Tell If You are Over-conditioning?
While hair conditioners boost your hair care routine significantly, they can still be used in excess to cause more harm than good. Some common signs of over-conditioning are:
- Difficulty styling your hair with heat
- Excessive glossiness or shine
- Lack of volume
- Greasiness
If you observe these signs, you should cut back on your hair conditioner use.
How to Tell If You are Under-conditioning?
Just like over-conditioning, under-conditioning your hair is also a common occurrence. Some signs to look out for are:
- Dullness
- Frizz
- Excessive tangling
- Dry or brittle strands that break easily
Conclusion
Ultimately, the frequency of conditioning depends entirely on your individual hair type and needs. Experimentation is key! Pay close attention to how your hair feels after each wash.
If it feels dry, brittle, or tangled, increase your conditioning frequency. If it feels weighed down or greasy, you may be conditioning too often. Remember that consistent, personalized care is the key to achieving healthy, beautiful hair.
